Top 20 Greatest Female Rappers

  • 4 months ago
These lyricists can spit bars! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Female Rappers, considering rhyming talent, commercial success, and lasting influence on hip-hop.

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00:00 So I tell him it's one of me, he making fun of me, his girl is a bum to me.
00:04 Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 female rappers
00:11 considering rhyming talent, commercial success and lasting influence on hip hop.
00:16 I'm trying to hold on cause what we had was so deep and in relationships you gotta
00:20 take the bitter with the sweet.
00:23 Number 20.
00:24 Megan Thee Stallion.
00:25 It's always good news when this savage stallion drops some bars.
00:30 Once she released the hit song "Hot Girl Summer" in 2019, it was off to the races.
00:34 I called a J to get that nick, I told him caught on some no texting, don't you tell
00:37 'em you with me when they be asking where you at.
00:40 The Houston native star continued to grow in 2020 thanks to collabs with Cardi B and
00:44 Beyonce, and she received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year.
00:49 Put him on his knees, give him something to believe in, never lost a fight but I'm looking
00:52 for a beat.
00:53 Beyond her viral success, Megan is known for her creative visuals, paying tribute to the
00:57 greats before her and the duality of her lyrics.
01:00 One minute she's rapping about sex positivity, and the next, personal survival struggles
01:04 on shots fired.
01:05 No matter the subject matter, you can bet on this stallion bringing the heat.
01:10 Number 19.
01:11 Lady Of Rage.
01:12 Her discography is somewhat small, but we're down with just about every last verse of it.
01:21 The Lady Of Rage hit the rap scene in 1988, and was discovered by Dr. Dre and his label
01:32 Death Row Records in the early 90s.
01:34 Soon enough, she had features on two landmark hip hop albums of the decade, Dre's The
01:39 Chronic, where she appeared on five tracks in Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggy Style.
01:48 The Lady Of Rage released her own single, Afro Puffs in 1994, also assisted by Snoop,
01:53 where she paid homage to her signature hairstyle.
01:56 While the lady only had one solo album on Death Row's Heyday, 1997's Necessary Roughness,
02:02 she was more than capable of holding her own alongside the era's biggest male talent.
02:12 Number 18.
02:13 Doja Cat.
02:15 From Earth to Planet Earth, this rapper isn't just worldwide, she's intergalactic.
02:24 After 2018's viral move, few could have predicted Doja Cat's longevity and versatility.
02:30 In the years since, she's shown us several sides of her persona.
02:34 Fun and flirtation on pop hits like "Say So," absurdism in droves on "Tia Tamera,"
02:39 and many more.
02:48 But on her fourth album, Scarlet, she sought out to prove herself as a rapper first and
02:52 foremost.
02:53 With some occult visuals, erratic social media promo, and commentary on fame, it felt like
02:58 the beginning of a deeper evolution.
03:00 In and outside of rap, Doja Cat has proven herself as one of the defining artists of
03:05 the 2020s, and whatever's next is sure to impress.
03:13 Number 17.
03:15 Remy Ma.
03:16 No matter what stage of her career you're looking at, there's just something about
03:20 Remy.
03:26 Bronx rapper Remy Ma first got discovered by the late Big Pun and found her way to Terror
03:30 Squad, his group with Fat Joe.
03:32 After their 2004 song "Lean Back" hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100, she released
03:38 her solo album.
03:44 While the Scott Storch-produced lead single "Conceited" was an irresistible slice
03:48 of pop rap, her career was sadly paused in 2008 due to legal issues.
03:53 Remy made her grand return in the mid-2010s, scoring a long-awaited comeback with Fat Joe
03:59 on "All The Way Up," not to mention dropping "Sheether," the most blistering Nicki
04:04 Minaj diss track of all time.
04:06 Seriously, it's brutal.
04:14 Number 16.
04:16 Sha Ra.
04:17 Many have argued over who is the true queen of rap, but there's only one mother of the
04:22 mic.
04:27 Sharon Green, better known as MC Sha Ra, got her start in the late '70s shortly after
04:32 the advent of hip-hop.
04:33 Widely cited as the first female rapper, Sha Ra grows to prominence as part of the Funky
04:38 4+1.
04:44 She was only 18 when they booked a Saturday Night Live musical guest spot, thanks to Blondie's
04:49 Debbie Harry.
04:50 Sha Ra wasn't just the Funky 4+1's token female member.
04:54 Developing her own style of rap called the "echo chamber effect," Sha Ra's trailblazing
04:59 went on to inspire MC Lyte and countless others, and some male artists like Run-DMC.
05:04 Number 15.
05:08 Roxanne Shante.
05:09 There have been plenty of rap beasts between the ladies on this list, but how many turned
05:13 into all-out wars?
05:19 In the mid-1980s, Teenage Juice crew member Lolita Shante Gooden was enlisted to hop on
05:24 a diss track against the group UTFO after they had no-show'd an event.
05:28 The final product was Roxanne's "Revenge," an answer record to their song "Roxanne,
05:33 Roxanne."
05:34 "Every time that I see him, everything he say, he rockin' to the beat of any song
05:37 that just went, "Hit!"
05:38 Gooden released the track under the name Roxanne Shante, which she performs under to this day.
05:43 It soon incited the Roxanne Wars, boosting Shante's profile at 14 years old and igniting
05:49 a series of subsequent answer records from other artists, including another rapper known
05:54 as the "Real Roxanne."
05:55 Still, it was Shante's initial diss that changed the fabric of hip-hop history forever.
06:06 Number 14.
06:08 Trina In the world of female rap, the baddest is
06:11 also one of the best.
06:18 Soon after meeting Trick Daddy in the late '90s, Trina released her debut album in
06:22 2000.
06:23 The "Dirty South" title track pretty much took everything Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown
06:27 established in the previous decade and turned it up to 11, while paving the way for similarly
06:32 raunchy artists like the City Girls.
06:35 Meanwhile, the follow-up single "Pull Over" hilariously referenced other rap radio hits
06:43 at the time such as Juvenile's "Back That Thing Up" and Sisqo's "Thong Song."
06:50 With a long list of collaborations including Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, and more recently
06:55 Lotto & Saweetie, Trina's peers and successors recognized the Diamond Princess's greatness.
07:07 Number 13.
07:09 Cardi B Despite her larger-than-life personality, it's
07:13 easy to forget that Cardi B got her start on love and hip-hop.
07:16 The Bronx rapper's reality origins have been relegated to a footnote in her career.
07:25 Cardi's 2018 debut album "Invasion of Privacy" was a watershed moment for the
07:34 genre.
07:35 Its single "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It" both topped the Billboard Hot 100, and
07:39 she became the first solo female artist to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
07:47 While Cardi has stalled on a sophomore album, her later singles have performed similarly.
07:53 Her raunchy 2020 collab with Megan Thee Stallion "WAP" broke the internet and caused a
07:57 bit of a moral panic.
07:59 There may be stronger rappers, but few have garnered this much money and press.
08:07 Number 12.
08:09 Foxy Brown Just like her action hero namesake of the
08:12 70s, this rapper is a whole lotta woman.
08:15 Foxy Brown was signed to Def Jam Records at 17 years old, and quickly found herself working
08:20 alongside legends.
08:26 Her debut album "Ill Nana" included the hit single "I'll Be" featuring Jay-Z,
08:31 and she briefly joined Nas' supergroup, The Firm.
08:38 That said, Foxy's most notable relationship with another MC was a feud.
08:43 Her rivalry with Lil' Kim, with whom she was often compared, was one of the biggest
08:47 rap beefs of the 90s.
08:49 Foxy's high fashion aesthetic, braggadocious attitude, and lethal delivery made her one
08:54 of the most influential female rappers for the next generation.
08:57 Nicki Minaj in particular credited her with inspiring her whole career.
09:07 Number 11.
09:08 Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez When it comes to TLC's body of work, Left
09:13 Eye was the group's heart, soul, and resident rapper.
09:20 She came out swinging on their debut album, which was named after her line in their debut
09:25 single "Ain't Too Proud to Beg."
09:26 Lopez's lyrics on the track were provocative without crossing into vulgar territory, and
09:31 she continued pushing boundaries in their later output.
09:34 Left Eye's verse on "Waterfalls," TLC's crowning achievement, is perfectly poignant
09:39 and bittersweet while alluding to her personal struggles.
09:47 Although her life and career were tragically cut short due to a 2002 car accident, Left
09:52 Eye's legacy lives on among girl group and hip-hop fans alike.
10:02 Number 10.
10:04 Yves This one's strong and should be labeled as
10:07 a hazard.
10:13 In the late 90s and early 2000s, Yves dropped three blockbuster albums back to back.
10:18 Her biggest hit, the Gwen Stefani duet "Let Me Blow Your Mind," won the inaugural Grammy
10:23 Award for Best Rap/Song Collaboration, their first of two nominations in the category.
10:34 While Yves is known for her playful flow on songs like "Who's That Girl" and "Gangsta
10:38 Lovin'," she could also tone it down for serious issues.
10:41 She approached domestic violence on "Love Is Blind," which was loosely inspired by
10:45 her friend's real relationship.
10:52 Although Yves hasn't released an album since 2013, more recently focusing on acting and
10:57 TV hosting, she'll always be that girl.
11:06 Number 9.
11:07 Da Brat She may have faced Snoop Dogg comparisons
11:10 early on, but this brat quickly graduated into her own class.
11:19 With her 1994 debut album "Funk Defied," Da Brat became the first female rapper with
11:24 a platinum-certified release.
11:26 Its G-Funk lead single hit the top ten, and her follow-up album was also a success, featuring
11:32 the hit "Ghetto Love" with TLC's T-Boz.
11:40 And while they're not Da Brat's own songs, her friendship with a certain songbird supreme
11:45 saw her hopping on some of the biggest pop hits of the '90s.
11:49 Multiple Mariah Carey songs had Da Brat dropping bars on the remixes.
11:53 In the playground of rap, she's got more bars than a jungle gym.
12:02 Number 8.
12:04 Rapsody Rather than banking on sex appeal or chasing
12:06 viral trends, Rapsody has carried the torch of conscious artists like Queen Latifah and
12:11 Lauryn Hill.
12:17 In fact, she's the closest thing to a female Kendrick Lamar, and they've collaborated
12:21 several times.
12:22 She dismantled colorism on his 2015 track "Complexion," "Azulu Love," and Lamar later hopped on
12:28 her 2017 song "Power."
12:31 Its parent album, Layla's Wisdom, was lauded by music journalists, turning Rapsody into
12:36 a critical darling.
12:43 She followed it up with 2019's Eve, an equally acclaimed concept album, with each track named
12:49 after noteworthy African-American women.
12:51 Rapsody is unlikely to churn out a crossover pop hit any time soon, but we wouldn't have
12:57 it any other way.
13:04 Number 7.
13:05 MC Lyte In the '80s, after-school specials weren't
13:08 just on TV.
13:09 At just 12 years old, MC Lyte penned her future debut single, "I Cram to Understand You,
13:16 Sam," written about the personal effects of the decades-cracked epidemic.
13:24 It would be the first of many Lyte tracks dealing with social and political issues in
13:28 her community.
13:33 She recorded the song's 1988 parent album, "Lyte as a Rock," while still in her teens,
13:38 and the title couldn't have been more fitting.
13:40 MC Lyte brought a more serious, heavy tone to the genre, which was predominantly upbeat
13:45 and frivolous at the time.
13:51 By speaking out against violence and the devastating effects of the illicit substances trade, she
13:56 paved the way for others to address injustice in their rhymes.
14:06 Number 6.
14:08 Salt-N-Pepa Let's take a minute or two to give much
14:11 respect to.
14:12 Salt-N-Pepa broke barriers in the 1980s as one of the first female rap groups.
14:21 They proved their prowess on the energetic hit "Push It," which is still referenced
14:25 in pop culture to this day.
14:27 In an era where hip-hop objectified women and feminists critiqued it for doing so, Salt-N-Pepa
14:32 offered a unique perspective on subjects like safe sex, gender roles, and slut-shaming.
14:42 The 90s were another huge decade for them, with their fourth album "Very Necessary"
14:47 going five times platinum and earning them their first Grammy.
14:51 Along with their DJ Spinderella, this duo were true trailblazers.
15:01 Number 5.
15:02 Queen Latifah Hip-hop's detractors have criticized the
15:05 genre for its misogyny, but one artist sought to make a change from inside.
15:16 Rather than trying to fit in with the guys, Queen Latifah's 1993 song "U.N.I.T.Y."
15:20 called out usage of sexist slurs and it became her biggest hit.
15:24 Its parent album "Black Rain," her third overall, would be the first bi-female rapper
15:29 to be certified gold.
15:35 Latifah's work and sheer existence in the hip-hop space had already sparked discourse
15:39 about feminism, sexuality, and body image, and would continue on long afterwards.
15:50 Beyond her rapping abilities, Queen Latifah has demonstrated herself as a quadruple threat.
15:55 Hosting, singing, acting, and sometimes a number of these talents at the same time.
16:00 Do Mama Morton and Mortimer Maybell ring a bell?
16:07 Number 4.
16:09 Missy Elliott You've heard about a lot of great MCs, but
16:13 they ain't got nothing on her.
16:21 An accomplished rapper and producer, Missy Elliott is beloved for her avant-garde sounds,
16:26 fashions, videos, and collabs with Timberlake.
16:29 Their bon-gra inspired "Get Your Freak On" and the catchy, hilarious "Work It" won
16:33 Grammys and much critical acclaim.
16:40 Missy took a lengthy hiatus in the mid-2000s, but has since returned and received her flowers.
16:45 She performed at Katy Perry's 2015 Super Bowl halftime show, worked with Ariana Grande
16:51 and Lizzo, and in 2023, became the first rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
16:57 Misdemeanor might be in her name, but she can do no wrong.
17:09 Number 3.
17:10 Lil' Kim She might have competition for the Queen
17:13 of Rap title, but she's unchallenged as the Queen Bee.
17:23 Lil' Kim joined the notorious B.I.G.'s group Junior Mafia in 1994 and released her
17:27 solo debut "Hardcore" in 1996.
17:30 Instead of trying to be one of the boys, Kim accentuated and reveled in her femininity.
17:35 She was also happy to share the spotlight.
17:37 Her "Not Tonight, Ladies Night" remix was a who's who of fellow female rappers,
17:42 and she had a huge pop moment on 2001's "Lady Marmalade" remake.
17:51 With every zany outfit and shocking double entendre, Lil' Kim laid the groundwork for
17:55 her disciples a decade-plus later.
17:58 If Nicki Minaj is the Gaga of rap, Kim is the Madonna.
18:06 Number 2.
18:08 Lauryn Hill Ready or not, here she comes.
18:17 Singer and rapper Lauryn Hill first broke out as part of the hip-hop group the Fugees
18:21 before releasing her debut solo album in 1998.
18:24 But don't be fooled by its title.
18:26 The miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a masterclass for anyone who's ever picked up a pen or
18:32 a microphone.
18:33 "I can't match this, rapper/actress, more powerful than two Cleopatras."
18:37 Combining hip-hop and neo-soul, it became one of the most successful and acclaimed albums
18:42 of all time.
18:43 Rap or not, garnering Hill five wins in one night at the 1999 Grammy Awards.
18:48 "Now hear this mixture, where hip-hop meets scripture, develop a negative into a positive
18:53 picture."
18:54 The catchy, socially conscious lead single "Doo Wop That Thing" also broke several
18:58 records upon debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
19:02 While Hill has only released one studio album to date, one is all you need when it's this
19:07 good.
19:18 You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
19:22 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
19:30 Nicki Minaj Could it be anyone else?
19:33 Personal life controversies aside, Nicki Minaj has more than earned her title as the queen
19:37 of rap.
19:38 "This one is for the boys with the booming system, top town AC with the cooling system.
19:39 When it come up in the club, it be blazing up.
19:40 Got stacks on deck like he's saving up."
19:45 The female hip-hop scene had regressed almost to a ghost town when she arrived, and turned
19:50 it all around with the success of her 2010 debut, Pink Friday.
19:53 Minaj showed there was still an audience for women in rap, and inspired a whole new class
19:58 of femcees a decade down the line.
20:00 And by then, she was still on top herself.
20:08 She expanded on the strengths of previous trailblazers from Foxy Brown's Attitude to
20:13 Lil' Kim's Fashion and Alter Egos, combining all of those influences into the ultimate
20:18 artist.
20:24 No matter where Nicki's legacy ends up, it's impossible to erase the queen's contributions.
20:34 Who's in your female rap mount Rushmore?
20:37 And who from the new generation do you see becoming one of the greats?
20:40 Let us know in the comments down below!
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